The British know their way around luxury cars. After all, it is one of the nations with the most prosperous heritage in car manufacturing. Traditions, especially in upmarket automobiles, are well preserved and presented through technological advancement. Dramatic or surprise elements won't be the things you'll be looking for. Instead, you'll be expecting refinement and understated elegance from a high-end British car.
This brings us to the Range Rover, a luxurious and equally capable off-roader. As something iconically British like the Queen's Guard or the Shepherd's Pie, the Rangie is a good-old recipe that doesn't need much alteration. So as the "Baby Rangie", Evoque. The 2nd generation of the compact SUV was launched in 2018, and an update is expected soon, with the overall styling and character retained.
Let's take a closer look at next year's Range Rover Evoque.
What's New With The 2022 Range Rover Evoque?
One thing we're sure of is a long-wheelbase version will be available for the 2022 Range Rover Evoque. Various media in Europe have reported a test mule of the new model was spotted on the open roads and snowy forests in Germany and England. One even went hitting the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. It seems like the updated Evoque is reaching some final states of development.
From what we've seen, the test car retains the round, neat, modern shape of the current Evoque. So as the slim LED head and rear lights which are nicely connected through the sideline along the body. With the wheelbase stretched, the most noticeable difference compared to the current model is probably the lengthened rear doors and rear windows.
Many modern cars, swelling up with each generation. The BMW 3-Series, for example is having a footprint similar to the early 7-Series limos, and the X3 as big as a 1990s X5. This is not the case for Range Rovers, though.
Their models are well distinguished in terms of grading and sizes, and they never breach each others' territory. The top-level is the original Range Rover, the Velar in the middle, and the Evoque, a compact, "entry-level" (despite still expensive) Rangie. In terms of length, the current Evoque and Velar measures 172.1 and 188.9 inches (4,371 and 4,798 mm), respectively.
So it is safe to predict the length of the LWB Evoque will sit comfortably between the above range. This is a good point, as the standard car is offering only 33.8 inches (859 mm) of rear-seat legroom, which is probably the biggest shortcoming of this rather refined compact luxury SUV.
How's The Interior Of The 2022 Range Rover Evoque?
There are rumors that the new LWB Evoque will adopt a 5+2 seating layout. This is yet to be confirmed as there aren't any images of the interior captured yet. We can however, delve into the current design first, as it is highly likely to be retained.
The interior follows the exterior's modern, minimalistic lines. There aren't extravagant shapes. Most of the cabin is arranged in neat, clean rectangles. Most notably, the three screens: the digital dashboard and the two-piece Touch Pro Duo infotainment system used throughout Jaguar Land Rover's models.
There are two rotate-and-push knobs on the lower touchscreen, which can be used to control many things depending on the context, such as the climate controls, Range Rover's signature Terrain Response system, and other driving modes. So you won't need to go through all the hidden tabs and menus when the vehicle is in motion.
There are some other screens too, such as the optional head-up display. The rear-view mirror can also go digital, with it incorporated with a screen linked to a camera fitted behind the roof aerial. A useful option as the Evoque's rear visibility is quite limited by the small and high tailgate window.
Owned by a huge group of A-list celebrities and used by James Corden for his carpool karaoke, a Range Rover promises, of course, the finest materials. The Evoque maintains the same standard as its bigger brother. The interior is wrapped with fine, smooth Windsor Leather with different color options.
You can also choose fabrics with wool. In case you're animal-welfare-concerned, there is also a choice of fabric that involves materials derived from recycled plastic bottles. It appears that modern-day luxury is targeting a much wider spectrum of audiences. One thing for sure to be loved by most buyers would probably be the huge panoramic sunroof.
How Does The 2022 Range Rover Evoque Drive?
Sporty, engaging, and thrilling, these are not the qualities you should expect from a Range Rover. But being a luxury compact SUV, the Evoque is capable enough to match its price tag and status. Several 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines are available. Currently, only the 246hp "P250" model is sold in the states, which is good enough to propel the 1.9-tonne SUV to a 0-60mph time of 7 seconds.
In Europe, though, the latest Evoque can be offered with four types of petrol mild-hybrid engine, two types of diesel mild-hybrid engine, a traditional diesel engine, or a plug-in hybrid petrol engine. Except for the lowest-graded traditional diesel, all other powertrains are mated to an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The most powerful options will be the 300hp "P300" petrol and the 309hp "P300e" plug-in hybrid, which can achieve 141mpg.
The 2022 Range Rover Evoque Can Do Proper Off-road Stuffs
It's more likely to spot an Evoque on the Sunset Boulevard than up in the Rockies. But something with the "Range Rover" badge on it has to be a proper off-roader. This baby Range Rover is also fitted with the signature Terrain Response system, and with a gentle touch on the mode selector, the onboard computers will set the suspensions, gearbox, and differentials to deal with terrains like sand, gravel, snow, mud, etc. The Evoque can even cope with water as deep as 60cm.
There's even this optional magical Ground View system. Through the screen, you can see instant images of the area down between the driver's seat and the front wheels, fed from cameras embedded around the front of the car. It will be like seeing through a glass hood and engine bay. Good for seeing the rough road surface and avoiding boulders and crevasses.
Prices of the current Evoque starts from $42,650. We're not sure which 2022 models will go across the Atlantic, but the top-spec petrol and the plug-in hybrid are likely. The most-expensive plug-in hybrid is currently selling for prices from around $61,700 in Europe. If the LWB model is ever going to the States, it will probably come with a price tag below the bigger $56,300 Velar.